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Source: http://www.greenwichtime.com/ci_9688402
Town tests emergency flu plan
By Meredith Blake
Staff Writer
Article Launched: 06/25/2008 02:30:11 AM EDT
Testing an emergency flu pandemic plan has made local health officials more aware of what is needed to contain an outbreak.
A pandemic is a global disease epidemic, a rare but recurrent event. In the last 300 years, there have been 10 pandemics, the last three in the 20th century, according to Joanna Lipson, emergency preparedness coordinator for the town Department of Health. They have killed tens of millions, she said.
"We're overdue for a pandemic influenza," she said "This is something that every community should be prepared for."
This was the first time the department had tested the plan; the test is required by the federal government and funded by a federal grant.
"We're going to be the ones running the show, so to speak, so we have to make sure all the procedures are in place," said Caroline Baisley, director of the town health department.
According to Lipson, the department divided into different groups for the three-hour test: Communications, anti-viral distribution, vaccination, surveillance and community containment.
Staff were given a scenario: A man is found at Greenwich Hospital with a suspected case of a virulent influenza strain from Asia. Then news arrives that his wife is also infected. What would the department do? asked Charles Brown of the Connecticut Association of Directors of Health, who oversaw the exercise.
A pandemic flu is caused by a new flu virus to which people have never been exposed and have no resistance. Because these cases can spread globally very quickly, health departments must respond quickly, Lipson said.
During the drill, each group came up with their responsibilities, ranging from contacting the press or setting up a hot line to developing surveillance methods, such as distributing forms throughout the community, Lipson said.
The local health officials would have to develop an alert system and then determine the extent of the outbreak. They would try to determine any other trace contacts, such as colleagues of the victims, and likely close schools or other public meeting places, Lipson said.
The drill allowed the department staff to see where their strengths would lie during this emergency response. For example, Tom Mahoney, director of special clinical services who works with schools and other agencies, would be good in the communication group, she said.
"I was very pleased with the staff's performance," said Baisley, " I feel very confident that we as an agency would respond well."
Pandemic response plans are based on the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic - considered one of the deadliest in history - which took 40 million lives. Because the world is a much more global community today, the threat that a new viral strain would pose could be even more devastating. People are also living closer together and hospitals are at full capacity - so a very tight plan must be in place to prevent the spread of the disease, Lipson said.
Town tests emergency flu plan
By Meredith Blake
Staff Writer
Article Launched: 06/25/2008 02:30:11 AM EDT
Testing an emergency flu pandemic plan has made local health officials more aware of what is needed to contain an outbreak.
A pandemic is a global disease epidemic, a rare but recurrent event. In the last 300 years, there have been 10 pandemics, the last three in the 20th century, according to Joanna Lipson, emergency preparedness coordinator for the town Department of Health. They have killed tens of millions, she said.
"We're overdue for a pandemic influenza," she said "This is something that every community should be prepared for."
This was the first time the department had tested the plan; the test is required by the federal government and funded by a federal grant.
"We're going to be the ones running the show, so to speak, so we have to make sure all the procedures are in place," said Caroline Baisley, director of the town health department.
According to Lipson, the department divided into different groups for the three-hour test: Communications, anti-viral distribution, vaccination, surveillance and community containment.
Staff were given a scenario: A man is found at Greenwich Hospital with a suspected case of a virulent influenza strain from Asia. Then news arrives that his wife is also infected. What would the department do? asked Charles Brown of the Connecticut Association of Directors of Health, who oversaw the exercise.
A pandemic flu is caused by a new flu virus to which people have never been exposed and have no resistance. Because these cases can spread globally very quickly, health departments must respond quickly, Lipson said.
During the drill, each group came up with their responsibilities, ranging from contacting the press or setting up a hot line to developing surveillance methods, such as distributing forms throughout the community, Lipson said.
The local health officials would have to develop an alert system and then determine the extent of the outbreak. They would try to determine any other trace contacts, such as colleagues of the victims, and likely close schools or other public meeting places, Lipson said.
The drill allowed the department staff to see where their strengths would lie during this emergency response. For example, Tom Mahoney, director of special clinical services who works with schools and other agencies, would be good in the communication group, she said.
"I was very pleased with the staff's performance," said Baisley, " I feel very confident that we as an agency would respond well."
Pandemic response plans are based on the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic - considered one of the deadliest in history - which took 40 million lives. Because the world is a much more global community today, the threat that a new viral strain would pose could be even more devastating. People are also living closer together and hospitals are at full capacity - so a very tight plan must be in place to prevent the spread of the disease, Lipson said.